Table of Contents
Round 4 of the NBL26 Season continues on Wednesday, October 8th, as the Ignite Cup tips off with the New Zealand Breakers hosting the Illawarra Hawks at Spark Arena.
Both sides are desperate for a win, and there’s no coach under more pressure right now than Petteri Koponen, with the Breakers still searching for their first victory after a tough 0-4 start. They’ve shown flashes of promise, but poor defence and lapses in execution down the stretch have cost them dearly in games.
The Hawks haven’t fared much better, and coach Justin Tatum made his frustrations clear after their Round 3 loss to Perth. Illawarra have the firepower, but consistency remains an issue. Former NBA star Javale McGee has been a shining light early in the season, dominating inside the paint, but the NBL25 Champions clearly miss the defensive intensity and work ethic of Will Hickey.
Both teams will be eager to make a statement to open the Ignite Cup, and with plenty of pride on the line, expect a hard-fought battle with a real sense of urgency on both ends of the floor.
What is the Ignite Cup?
The Ignite Cup is the Hungry Jack’s NBL’s brand-new in-season tournament, adding extra spice to Wednesday nights with 20 additional games throughout the year. The tournament features a unique scoring system designed to keep every matchup competitive, and it all builds toward a standalone Final with a massive $400,000 prize pool on the line.
Here is a New Zealand Breakers vs Illawarra Hawks Prediction for Wednesday, October 8th 2025.
Be sure to check back before each NBL26 Match for NBL Previews, NBL Head to Head Predictions, NBL Tips, NBL Picks and NBL Predictions for matches of NBL Season 26.
Australian Basketball Predictions for Today.
New Zealand Breakers vs Illawarra Hawks
Venue – Spark Arena
Tip Off – 5.30pm EST
Season Record
| Team | W-L | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ | 0-4 | 0-2 | 0-2 |
| Illawarra | 0-2 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
Season Scoring
| Team | PPG | Opp PPG | Game Total Ave |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ | 82.5 | 101 | 183.5 |
| Illawarra | 85 | 91.5 | 176.5 |
Quick Game Facts
- Defensive battles in Auckland! The last seven clashes between New Zealand and Illawarra at Spark Arena have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Fast starts! The Hawks have won the first half in their last five trips to New Zealand.
- Hawks flying high! Illawarra has won four straight against the Breakers and will be confident heading into this one.
Quick Player Facts – New Zealand Breakers
- Parker Jackson-Cartwright has dropped 18+ points in five straight games against Illawarra.
- Sam Mennenga has hauled in 6+ rebounds in each of his last five outings.
- Sam Mennenga has also dished out 2+ assists in three straight games
Quick Player Facts – Illawarra Hawks
- Tyler Harvey has scored 15+ points in each of his last 10 away games against teams with a losing record.
- Tyler Harvey has grabbed four or more rebounds in three of Illawarra’s last four games.
- Jonah Bolden has pulled down seven or more rebounds in five of his last six appearances
Prediction
The New Zealand Breakers might have home-court advantage, but they’re struggling for form and face a Hawks team that has beaten them four straight times. Illawarra looks ready to claim its first win of the season, with big man JaVale McGee poised to dominate the paint against a Breakers side that continues to struggle defensively inside.
Games between these two sides have also been high-scoring in recent meetings, and with both teams struggling defensively to start the season, we could see plenty of buckets again. There could be plenty points and the Hawks like to dictate the pace, so the Game Total seems a little bit low with the Breakers struggling on the defensive end.